From

Location

Message

Date Posted

In the shade - PDX, OR

I was thinking about this topic over the weekend. I wanted to put this out there and have you all review my logic.
Obviously the overall goal of the season is to grow a GIANT Pumpkin (or Squash)
A couple of things come to mind trying ot accomplish this:
1) Keeping the plant growing all season long. &
2) Try to get it to grow as efficient as possible.

An example to increase plant efficiency could be: Cutting off the tendrils.

I was thinking about how to improve the efficiency of my plants. All the fruit that I wanted to keep are set, yet all of the males along the secondaries keep blooming. If the plant wastes energy on the blooming males, couldn't that energy be best used to grow the fruit bigger? (or used for something else)

Has anyone ever cut off the remaining males on their plants late in the season?

Thanks and Ya'll grow 'em BIG!
Ceis

8/12/2002 3:50:38 PM

Rydal, Georgia

This may have been dumb, but after I had set a nice pumpkin on each of my vines, I cut off all flowers and keep them off. Now that my pumpkins are in the later days of thier lives, some new little pumpkins have come up on off shoots from the main vine, and well, i will let them go to give to the neighbors and have extra for pies? Good Luck!

8/12/2002 4:23:00 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

CEIS...Yes, always. Many growers do this for the same reason as your premise. I keep the tendrils to help keep the vines more secure.
White Feathers...Nice thought for the neighbors but I wouldn't want the chemicals we treat our plants with to be in a pumpkin that I would eat. Plus, AG's have about the least flavor of any pumpkins. Many other varieties have higher sugar contents and better flesh which make for a better pie with better taste. Hopefully I'll make it to the upcoming weighoff. See-ya there.

8/12/2002 7:44:00 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I haven't had a male flower in over a month. All tendrils have also been cut off. Does it help?-- I have no idea. You could also argue that the plant then has to expend energy to heal after having a flower or tendril cut off, and perhaps even uses more energy then just letting it bloom. (I don't buy that logic thats why I cut mine off)

8/12/2002 8:16:44 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

Actually not quite a month. I started cutting them all off on July 15.

8/12/2002 8:17:53 PM